Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The action was in high gear on Tuesday night as half a dozen teams faced off in 3 Semifinals tilts. Former Islanders made major contributions to a couple of those games. Let us take a look at the action:

* The Pittsburgh Penguins seized a commanding 3-0 series lead over the New York Rangers with a 5-3 win at Madison Square Garden. Martin Straka yet again proved he was one of the few Blueshirts working up to par. Straka had a goal and an assist. He now has 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) on 8 games with all 9 points coming in 5 of the last 6 contests.

* The Dallas Stars grabbed a 3-0 series lead with a 2-1 OT win over the visiting San Jose Sharks. It was the second OT win of the series for Dallas. San Jose, who was tapped by many sports writers as favorites to win the Cup this year, are now facing a deficit only 2 teams have every overcome.

* Detroit and Chris Osgood kept the good times going edging the host Colorado Avalanche 4-3 to take a 3-0 series lead. The Red Wings are on the verge of returning to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive season, the first time they would accomplish that feat since 1995-1998 when they won 3 Cups in 4 years. Ozzie was sharp yet again for the Wings stopping 30 of 33 shots giving up only enough goals to make it interesting. Osgood is 5-0 in the playoffs stopping bucks at a .938 percentage and giving up a meager 1.44 goals per game.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Yet again there was no Former Islander happenings of note as there was only 1 game on the Monday night schedule. Here is a brief recap of that Semifinal contest:

* The Philadelphia Flyers, now at home, edged the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 to grab a 2-1 series lead. Philly built a 3-0 lead in the 2nd Period but almost blew it as the Habs came storming back with 2 goals in less than a minute and a half in the 3rd Period.

There were yet another pair of games on Saturday as the Semifinals series kick in to high gear. Former Islanders are lending their help along the way. Here is a look at the 2 games:

* Chris Osgood is on a roll. Ozzie stopped 19 of 20 shots as the host Detroit Red Wings thumped the Colorado Avalanche 5-1 to grab a 2-0 series lead. Osgood is 4-0 in 4 starts during the 2008 Playoffs. He has stopped 90 of 95 shots for a .947 save percentage and a slim 1.09 goals against average with 1 shutout.

* Veteran Jim Dowd assisted on the opening goal only 5:53 in to play as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the host Montreal Canadiens 4-2 to even their series at 1 win a piece. Dowd has 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) on 9 games this postseason.

Two more Semifinals series kicked off on Friday night. There was one Former Islander happening. Let us look at the results:

* Martin Straka opened the scoring 13:40 in to the 1st Period but it was for naught as the New York Rangers fell to the host Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4. The Pens grabbed an early series lead at 1-0. The Straka goal came with the man advantage. Straka has been impressive with 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) on 6 playoff games. He has notched 3 of those points (1 goal, 2 assists) on the powerplay. The Blueshirts blew a 3-0 lead in the final 32 minutes.

* Dallas grabbed an early lead beating the host San Jose Sharks 3-2 in OT. The Stars lead the series 1-0.

With Wednesday an off day between rounds of the 2008 NHL Playoffs, Thursday kicked the action in to high gear with 2 games as the Conference Semifinals opened up. Only 8 teams remain as teams battle for the right to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup this June. Six of the 8 teams have at least one FI hoping to live out their dream. Let us take a peek at the action:

* Jim Dowd notched his 1st goal of the playoffs with 3:11 remaining in the first period which gave the Flyers a short-lived 2-0 lead. The Montreal Canadiens pulled off a hard fought comeback at home to beat Philadelphia 4-3 in OT. The Habs grabbed a 1-0 series lead. Dowd has 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) on 8 games this postseason.

* Having taken over for an unpredictable Dominik Hasek, Chris Osgood is shining as the starter for the Red Wings. The Detroit goaltender stopped 18 of 21 shots to help guide the Wings to a 4-3 win over the visiting Colorado Avalanche to secure a 1-0 series lead. Ozzie is 3-0 in 3 starts in the playoffs. Avs' winger Ryan Smyth had 2 assists. Smyth has 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points on 7 games.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

There were two Game 7 matchups on Tuesday night as we reached the final day of the Quarterfinal Round. A pair of dreams were dashed as a couple of teams vaulted in to the next round. Former Islanders were involved in both games. Let us look at the Game 7 action:

* Viktor Kozlov assisted on the tying goal with 4:31 remaining in the 2nd Period as the Washington Capitals fell short of the objective with a 3-2 OT home loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Kozlov made little impact for the Caps notching only 3 assists on 7 games with all 3 helpers coming in the last 3 contests. Considering he was among the leading point scorers for Washington in the regular season he was almost completely a non-factor as they Caps were edged by a Flyers team that seemed to gel even as they faced adversity in watching the Caps come back from a 3-1 series deficit.

* Defenseman Adrian Aucoin had 2 assists, including 1 on the powerplay, but the Calgary collapse in the 2nd Period was enough for San Jose as the Sharks knocked off the Flames with a 5-3 home win. Aucoin struggled to make an offensive appearance through much of the series managing only 3 assists on 7 games but then again the Flames' offense was few and far between throughout much of the series.

Keep checking with FIW as the 2008 NHL Playoffs move on to the Conference Semifinals. Former Islanders are still in the hunt for the Cup including the Rangers' Martin Straka, the Canadiens' Roman Hamrlik and Bryan Smolinski, Flyers' journeyman Jim Dowd, Colorado's Ryan Smyth and Detroit's Chris Osgood.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

One dream is over while another series will go down to a decisive game 7. There were 2 games on Monday and at the end of the day only 3 walked away still holding on to a shot at the Cup. Former Islanders are lending help to those in the running. Let us take a look at the results:

* Viktor Kozlov assisted on the game winning goal 2:46 into the 3rd Period as the Washington Capitals pulled off a 4-2 win over the host Philadelphia Flyers to force Game 7. Kozzer has 2 assists on 6 playoff games. Defenseman John Erskine assisted on Washington's 2nd goal with less than 2 minutes remaining in the 2nd period. Erskine has 2 assists on 6 games this postseason but snapped a 4 game point-less drought with the helper.

* Montreal blanked Boston 5-0 to seal the series 4-3. The Canadiens defeated the Bruins but it was a valiant effort by a #8 Boston squad that many considered lucky to have even made it to the playoffs. Montreal defenseman Roman Hamrlik had an assist on the 3rd goal. Hamrlik has 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points on 7 playoff games.

Two more series came to an end on Sunday as the Quarterfinals officially begin to wind down. There were 3 more games and 6 teams still with Stanley Cup dreams but when the day was done 2 would begin thinking about next year. Former Islanders are helping out whatever ways they can. Let us take a brief look at the games:

* Chris Osgood stopped all 20 shots he faced as the Detroit Red Wings blanked the host Nashville Predators 3-0 to win the series 4-2. Osgood improved to 2-0 on the playoffs this season seemingly taking the top spot from Dominik Hasek for the time being. In 3 appearances Ozzie has an unbelievable .981 save percentage and an anorexic 0.39 goals against average. He has stopped 53 of 54 shots in 155 minutes of ice time.

* The back-and-forth battle between San Jose and Calgary will continue for one final game. The Flames blanked the visiting Sharks 2-0 to even the series at 3 wins a piece. After taking a 2-1 series lead the Flames lost the next 2 to give the Sharks a 3-2 advantage. With this shutout the Flames have now insured at least one Game 7 in this year's Quarterfinals.

* Four 3rd Period goals did in the Ducks as the Dallas Stars outburst sealed a 4-1 win over visiting Anaheim. The defending champs were knocked out by a more determined Dallas squad who sealed the series 4 games to 2.

Another team was knocked out of contention on Saturday as half a dozen teams faced off in 3 more high stakes NHL Playoff games. Former Islanders are lending their help where they can. Let us take a quick peek at the happenings:

* Viktor Kozlov finally notched a point as the Washington Capitals avoided elimination with a 3-2 win over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. The win cut the Flyers series lead to 3-2. Kozzer assisted on the Caps' 2nd goal only 1:25 into the 2nd period. Kozlov has 1 assist on 5 games snapping a 5 game playoff drought dating back to April 18, 2007 while still with the Isles.

* The Boston Bruins continued to stave off elimination this time in a close one, a 5-4 home win over the visiting Montreal Canadiens. The win evened the series at 3 games a piece and keeps alive for now the once slim Bruins' hopes. Captain and defenseman Zdeno Chara assisted on the game winner with only 2:37 remaining in regulation. Chara has 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) on 6 games this postseason.

* Ryan Smyth notched the series winning goal for the Colorado Avalanche as the knocked off the visiting Minnesota Wild with a 2-1 victory. Colorado advances having won the series 4-2 over Minnesota. Smyth has 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) on 6 playoff games.

One more series wrapped up on Friday night as 6 teams faced off in 3 high energy Quarterfinals games. Former Islanders were helping push teams in to the next round. Here is a quick recap of those competitions:

* Martin Straka had a pair of powerplay assists as the New York Rangers downed the host New Jersey Devils 5-3 to seal the series 4-1. Straka has an impressive 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) on 5 games with all 6 coming in the last 3 tilts.

* Chris Osgood got the start and the win taking over for an uncharacteristically inconsistent Dominik Hasek. Osgood stopped 20 of 21 shots to lead the Detroit Red Wings to a 2-1 OT home win over the visiting Nashville Predators. The Red Wings grabbed a 3-2 series lead with the sudden death victory. The postseason start was his first since April 15, 2004 (pre-lockout!) while still the starting goaltender for the St. Louis Blues.

* The defending Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks avoided elimination with a spirited 5-2 win over the visiting Dallas Stars. The win cut the Dallas series lead to 3-2.

While the 2008 NHL Quarterfinals roll along teams are slowly but surely being knocked out of competition. There were 5 games on Thursday night but no series wrapped up. Former Islanders lent their help in a few of those tilts. Let us look at the action:

* The Philadelphia Flyers pulled off a 4-3 2OT win over the visiting Washington Capitals to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The loss puts Ovechkin and Co. up against the ropes.

* The Boston Bruins avoided elimination winning 5-1 over the host Canadiens to make it a 3-2 series lead in favor of Montreal. Rookie FI Petteri Nokelainen assisted on the game winning tally 3:31 in to the 3rd period. Nokelainen has 2 assists on 5 games in this postseason. First star of the game Zdeno Chara had a powerplay insurance goal only moments later. It was the first point for Chara in 5 games snapping a 4 game drought to start the Quarterfinal series.

* The host Dallas Stars beat the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 to grab a commanding 3-1 series lead. Ducks' defenseman Mathieu Schneider had the lone Anaheim goal coming with 8 seconds left in regulation. The point was Schneider's first of the playoffs and his first since May 2, 2007 while still with the Detroit Red Wings.

* The Colorado Avalanche edged the host Minnesota Wild 3-2 to grab a decisive 3-2 lead in their matchup.

* The up-and-down competition between San Jose and Calgary continued as the Sharks pulled off a 4-3 win to take a 3-2 lead over the Flames.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

With 3 games on the schedule on Wednesday, things continue to be busy in the opening round of the 2008 NHL Playoffs. One series has already wrapped up. Former Islanders lent their help to a couple of teams. Let us look at the action:

* The Pittsburgh Penguins pulled off the only sweep of the first round after beating the Senators 3-1 on Ottawa ice. After 1-2-1 in their season series against the Sens, the Pens pulled off their first playoff sweep since the 2nd round of the 1992 playoffs - a span of 20 series without the broom making an appearance.

* Martin Straka continues to play well for the New York Rangers as they offensively charged Blueshirts took a 3-1 series lead over the New Jersey Devils with a 5-3 win at home. Straka assisted on the game winner with 3:13 remaining in regulation and added a goal earlier in the game. Straka, the 2nd star of the game, has 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) on 4 games. All of those points have come in the last 2 competitions.

* Chris Osgood finally saw some playoff time. After being snubbed last year, Ozzie made a relief appearance for the ill-performing Dominik Hasek as the Detroit Red Wings were edged 3-2 by the host Nashville Predators. The Preds evened the series at 2 wins a piece. Osgood played the final 33 minutes stopping all 13 shots he faced. His appearance was his first in the postseason since April 15, 2004, over 4 years ago! At that time he was the starting goaltender for the St. Louis Blues who were dropped in 5 games in a first round matchup against the San Jose Sharks.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Happy Tax Day! It was a busy playoff day around the NHL as 10 teams faced off in 5 high stakes tilts on Tuesday. Former Islanders are lending help to their teams where they can. Let us take a quick look at all 5 games:

* Role playing veteran Jim Dowd assisted on Philadelphia's 3rd goal with 1:17 remaining in the 1st period as the Flyers downed the visiting Washington Capitals 6-3 to secure a 2-1 series lead. The assist was his first point of the postseason and his first since May 9, 2006 while with the Colorado Avalanche. The helper snapped a 14 playoff game point drought.

* The Montreal Canadiens blanked the host Boston Bruins 1-0 to take a stranglehold 3-1 lead in their series.

* Todd Bertuzzi had an assist on the game winning powerplay goal as the Anaheim Ducks doubled up on the host Dallas Stars for a 4-2 win. The victory cut Dallas' series lead to 2-1. The assist was Bertuzzi's 2nd in 3 postseason games this year.

* Winger Ryan Smyth had a powerplay assist on Colorado's 5th goal as the Avalanche thrashed the visiting Minnesota Wild 5-1 to even their series at 2 games a piece. Smyth now has 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) on 4 games with both points coming with the man advantage.

* Joe Thornton scored the winner with 9.4 seconds remaining in regulation as the San Jose Sharks edged the host Calgary Flames 3-2. The win evened up the series at 2 wins a piece in what is turning out to be the most evenly fought series of the Quarterfinals.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Two Edmonton Oilers' Former Islanders signed extensions over the last couple of days. Both prospects for the Isles earlier in 2006-07 season, trades sent left wing Robert Nilsson and defenseman Denis Grebeshkov to the Canadian North.

Nilsson signed a 3 year on Saturday April 12. The deal is reported to be worth $4.5 million with $1.5 million slated for the 2008-09 season and $2 million per season between 2009-2011. The deal secures Nilsson's services following a career year where he notched 10 goals and 31 assists for 41 points on 71 games. The contract extension insures that no teams could extend an offer sheet to the RFA this offseason.

Grebeshkov is reported to have inked a 1 year, $1.5 million deal. Playing in his first full season, Grebeshkov performed well, especially late, notching 3 goals and 15 assists for 18 points on 71 games. A smart, clean defenseman, Grebeshkov recorded only 22 penalty minutes all season and was a +2.

We wish the best for these 2 FIs and know they have even better seasons ahead of them with 2007-08 being just a sample of what they can do at the NHL level.

There were 3 more games on the playoff schedule on Monday as the Quarterfinals chug along. Though there were no Former Islander happenings of substance we will briefly recap the games:

* Pittsburgh has now put Ottawa up against the ropes grabbing a stranglehold 3-0 series lead. The Penguins beat the host Senators 4-1 to secure an advantage only overcome twice in the history of the NHL playoffs.

* The Nashville Predators showed up and pulled off a come-from-behind win over the visiting Detroit Red Wings 5-3. The win cut Detroit's series lead to 2-1.

* Minnesota and Colorado do not know how to play without OT. For the third time in as many games sudden death was a factor as the Wild beat the host Avalanche 3-2 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Monday, April 14, 2008

There were 4 more games up for grabs as these first round series continue reach high intensity. Former Islanders are helping their respective teams battle for the chance to win the exalted Stanley Cup. Here is a quick recap at the games and the FI contributions:

* The Philadelphia Flyers evened the series at a game a piece with the Washington Capitals as they blanked the hosts 2-0.

* Bryan Smolinski assisted on the lone Montreal goal as the Canadiens fell to the host Boston Bruins 2-1 in OT. The Bruins snapped a 13 game losing streak to the Habs with the win. Smoke is off to a hot start this postseason with 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) on 3 games. It is the first 3+ game point scoring streak in the playoffs for Smolinski since May 3-10, 2003 while playing with the Ottawa Senators. Boston cut the Montreal series lead to 2-1 with the victory.

* Arron Asham assisted on the opening goal of the game as the New Jersey Devils edged the host New York Rangers 4-3 in OT. With the win the Devs cut the Rangers' series lead to 2-1. Asham snapped a 24 game point-less streak (2 postseason, 22 regular season) for his first point since February 16. He also snapped a 6 game postseason point-less run dating to April 12, 2007 when he scored the lone goal in the Isles opening game versus the Buffalo Sabres in their Quarterfinal matchup. Rangers' winger Martin Straka had 2 assists, including 1 on the game tying goal 55 seconds into the 3rd period. Straka now has 2 assists on 3 games this postseason.

* Adrian Aucoin had a powerplay assist on Calgary's first goal as the Flames turned a 3-0 deficit at home into a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. The Flames hold the series lead at 2-1. The helper was Aucoin's 1st point of the playoffs and his first since April 17, 2003, snapping a 7 game postseason point-less run.

There were 3 more games on the schedule on Saturday as every series has officially kicked off in the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Former Islanders and helping where they can. Let us take a look at the games:

* The Nashville Predators fell victim to the host Red Wings again as Detroit beat the Pred 4-2 to grab a 2-0 series lead.

* Roman Hamrlik opened the scoring with 1:30 remaining in the 1st period as the Montreal Canadiens edged the visiting Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in OT. The Habs grabbed a 2-0 series lead with the win. The goal was Hamrlik's first in the playoffs since April 24, 2002, a span of 27 playoff games without. FI teammate Bryan Smolinski assisted on the goal. Smolinski has 1 goal and 1 assists for 2 points on 2 games this postseason. Bruins' rookie Petteri Nokelainen on assisted on their first goal. The assist was the first postseason point of Nokelainen's young career.

* Todd Bertuzzi assisted on Anaheim's 2nd goal as the Ducks fell to the visiting Dallas Stars 5-2. Dallas secured a 2-0 series lead with the victory. The playoff point was Bertuzzi's first since May 17, 2007 while playing with the Detroit Red Wings against none other than the Anaheim Ducks.

The action was hot on Friday as these early series are just beginning to warm up. There were 4 more games on Friday night. Former Islanders are contributing and providing some offensive spark as the Quarterfinals roll along. Here is a look at the FI workload:

* Defenseman Tom Poti assisted on the opening goal only 3:16 into the 1st period as the Washington Capitals edged the visiting Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 to secure a 1-0 series lead. It was the first playoff helper for Poti since April 18, 2007 when the Isles lost in Game 4 of their Quarterfinal series to the Buffalo Sabres. Fellow FI d-man John Erskine assisted on the Caps' 2nd goal. Erskine snapped a 9 game point-less drought dating back to the end of the season. The helper was the first playoff point of Erskine's career.

* Center Randy Robitaille assisted on Ottawa's 3rd goal as the Senators fell to the host Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3. The Pens grabbed a 2-0 series lead with the win. Robitaille has 1 assist on 2 games. The helper was Robitaille's first since April 16, 2007 when the Isles lost in Game 3 to the Buffalo Sabres in their Quarterfinal matchup.

* With 2 goals in 23 seconds in the 3rd period the New York Rangers sealed a 2-1 win over the host New Jersey Devils. The Rangers hold a 2-0 series lead.

* The Mark Parrish-less Minnesota Wild won 3-2 in OT over the visiting Colorado Avalanche to even their series at 1-1.

Three more series kicked on Thursday night part of 4 games on tap as 8 teams with dreams of Stanley Cup glory battle in these Quarterfinals matchups. Former Islanders are lending their support to these postseason contenders. Let us take a peek at all the action including the FI contributions:

* The Detroit Red Wings dropped visiting Nashville Predators 3-1 to grab an early 1-0 in their series.

* Bryan Smolinski netted an insurance goal as the Montreal Canadiens shutdown the visiting Boston Bruins for a 4-1 win and a 1-0 series lead. Smoke scored his first of the postseason, the first playoff goal for him since April 23, 2007 while playing with the Vancouver Canucks late last season. Canadiens' FI defenseman Roman Hamrlik received the 2nd star of the game honor for his effort.

* The host San Jose Sharks blanked the Calgary Flames 2-0 to even their series at 1 game a piece.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

The 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs started on Wednesday night with 4 teams in action. We will briefly recap the games including any relevant Former Islander contributions.

* The New York Rangers beat the host New Jersey Devils 4-1 to take a 1-0 series lead.

* The host Pittsburgh Penguins blanked the Ottawa Senators 4-0 to take a 1-0 edge in their rematch from last season's playoffs.

* Colorado scored the game winner midway through the 1st OT period as the Avalanche eked by the host Minnesota Wild 3-2 to take a 1-0 series lead. Ryan Smyth scored a powerplay goal in the 2nd period that gave Colorado a 2-0 advantage. The goal was Smyth's first in the postseason since April 16, 2007 when he scored for the Isles in the 3rd game of their 1st round series against the Buffalo Sabres. The goal snapped a 10 game drought to end the regular season.

* The Calgary Flames edged the host San Jose Sharks for a 3-2 win to take a 1-0 lead in that series.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Former Islander Watch presents the FI Playoff Preview, a look at the FI man power as we head into the first round of the Stanley Cups Playoffs which start this Wednesday April 9. We will briefly recap the season and potential value of each FI that might make roster time for the playoff bound squads.

Eastern Conference

* (1) Montreal Canadiens- Roman Hamrlik (D): Hamrlik had an okay season when all was said and done for the top-seeded Canadiens. Hamrlik had 26 points (5 goals, 21 assists) on 77 games and should be a mainstay on the blueline for the Canadiens, probably as an integral part of the powerplay unit. Bryan Smolinski (C): Coming off his weakest offensive full season, Smolinski is still a seasoned professional who brings postseason experience with him wherever he goes. Smoke had 25 points (8 goals, 17 assists) on 64 games.

* (2) Pittsburgh Penguins- Alain Nasreddine (D): The odds do not bode well that Nasreddine will be playing for the Pens this postseason. Nasreddine played in only 6 games for Pittsburgh this season to the tune of 0 points, 4 penalty minutes and a -4 rating.

* (3) Washington Capitals- Viktor Kozlov (C): Kozlov, building off a return to form from last season, had an even better year with the Caps this season. Having the chance to play much of the season on a line with Alexander Ovechkin, Kozlov recorded 54 points (16 goals, 38 assists) on 81 games. Tom Poti (D): Poti also had a strong showing with the Capitals. He notched 29 points (2 goals, 27 assists) on 71 games.

* (4) New Jersey Devils- Arron Asham (RW): Asham had a disappointing showing for the Devils completely disappearing in the second half of the season. Asham finished with 10 points (6 goals, 4 assists) on 77 games. Kevin Weekes (G): The relatively unused Weekes played well for the Devils in his 9 appearances (5 starts). He managed a 2-2-1 record with an .894 save percentage and a 2.97 goals against average. As usual, this New Jersey backup will probably see NO time in net this postseason barring some disaster takes down Devils' powerhouse Martin Brodeur.

* (5) New York Rangers- Martin Straka (LW): Seemingly completely recovered from an injury that hampered him earlier in the season, Straka is a spark plug on offense for the Blueshirts. Straka had 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) on 65 games. Jason Strudwick (D): Strudwick may or may not find a spot on the Rangers' shallow blueline as they enter the first round. Strudwick had 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) on 52 games with 40 penalty minutes. Stephen Valiquette (G): Valiquette performed nobly in his first full season as a backup goaltender. Valiquette made 13 appearances, including 10 starts, compiling a 5-3-3 record with an excellent 2.19 goals against average, a healthy .916 save percentage and 2 shutouts. If Henrik Lundqvist gets injured, the untested Valiquette will be called on to perform on par with his showing this season.

* (6) Philadelphia Flyers - Jim Dowd (C): By no means an "impact player," Dowd still makes his impression felt at times. A role player and grinder, Dowd had 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) on 73 games. He is always a threat on the penalty kill.

* (7) Ottawa Senators- Randy Robitaille (C): The results were mixed from the recently scratched Robitaille but he could make a difference if he makes the postseason roster. Robby had 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) on 68 games with the Sens this season.

* (8) Boston Bruins - Zdeno Chara (D): No FI is bigger, literally or figuratively, for Boston than Chara who is coming off a career season with 51 points (17 goals, 34 assists) on 77 games. Petteri Nokelainen(C): If he gets playing time young center Nokelainen could make an impact. He made a strong showing in his first full season recording 10 points (7 goals, 3 assists) on 57 games.

Western Conference

* (1) Detroit Red Wings- Chris Osgood (G): Coming off an amazing season, Osgood should see some starting time this postseason, unlike his complete and ill-chosen absence from last year's playoffs. Osgood played in 43 games (40 starts) to a 27-9-4 record with a league-leading 2.09 goals against average (single season best), a .914 save percentage and 4 shutouts. Look for Osgood to be a force in net as the Red Wings rotate Hasek and him in starts.

* (2) San Jose Sharks- The Sharks can shove it with their complete lack of FIs!

* (3) Minnesota Wild- Mark Parrish (RW): Coming off a frustrating season all around, Parrish needs some kind of spark to be a major force for the Wild this postseason. Parrish had 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) on 66 games tying his prior single season low in points and setting a new low in goals on a season. Sean Hill (D): The disgraced defenseman joined the team following his suspension to start the season. Hill performed well, especially in the last 10 games. He scored 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists) on 35 games and should be a force at the blueline for the Wild. Chris Simon (LW): It is doubtful that we will see the winger make an appearance or a major impact in the playoffs for Minnesota. Forces either personal, conspiratorial or both are working against Simon continuing his career beyond the 2007-08 campaign. A trade deadline pickup, Simon had 0 points on 10 games with the Wild.

* (4) Anaheim Ducks- Todd Bertuzzi (LW): Bertuzzi's first full season back was a pretty good one as he notched 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists) on 68 games. Look for Bert to turn it up a notch in the playoffs, a realm in which he likes to shine. Mathieu Schneider (D): Schneider, who started the season like he was on fire, is always an excellent two-way playmaker. He finished the season with 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) on 65 games. Schneider should see some time on the powerplay for the Ducks in the playoffs. Marc-Andre Bergeron (D): A cannon for a shot, the defenseman has been under-utilized by the Ducks since be acquired in a trade and may or may not see playoff time. In 9 games with Anaheim Bergeron recorded 1 assist.

* (6) Colorado Avalanche- Ryan Smyth (LW): If Smyth can stay un-injured for more than 5 minutes he could make a big impact for the Avs using his grinding, scrappy offensive play. Smyth had 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) on 55 injury-shortened games. Wyatt Smith (C): Of all the FIs mentioned in this post Smith is the least likely to see any playoff time seeing as he has not played for Colorado since December 3! Smith had 3 assists on 25 games with the Avs this season.

* (7) Calgary Flames- Adrian Aucoin (D): Aucoin is coming off of a career-reviving season and will be a force for the Calgary blueline and powerplay. Aucoin had 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) on 76 games. Eric Godard (RW): Not famed for his offensive talent, Godard should be a big checking force for the Flames in this playoffs. Godard had 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) on 74 games along with 171 penalty minutes.

* (8) Nashville Predators - Nashville has decided to follow Dallas who has ascribed to San Jose's anti-FI policy. Have fun with Detroit boys!

As it stands, 13 of 16 teams have at least one FI dreaming of lifting Lord Stanley's Cup come early June. Right now there are about 21 players with real hopes of seeing their names carved into the greatest trophy in all of sport. We will be following the playoffs every step of the way and hope you stick with us here at Former Islander Watch.

This is it folks, the last day of the 2007-08 regular season. Little was at stake on Sunday as the Top 8 teams had been assured. Only a couple of minor positioning issues were up for grabs. Former Islanders were active yet again. Let us take a look at the final regular season FI contributions:

* Eric Brewer had a powerplay assist on the first insurance goal as the St. Louis Blues ended on a high note defeating the host Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1. Brewer had 22 points (1 goal, 21 assists) on 77 games this season. He snapped an 8 game point-less run with the helper. Michael Peca scored the lone goal for the Jackets, a powerplay tally. Peca finished the season with 34 points (8 goals, 26 assists) on 65 games. He scored 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) with the extra man. Over the last 6 contests he had 4 points on 3 goals and 1 assist.

* Mark Parrish opened the scoring with a powerplay goal as the Minnesota Wild were edged by the host Colorado Avalanche 4-3 in SO. Parrish snapped an 11 game goal-less streak to finish the season with 16 goals and 14 assists for 30 points on 66 games. It was the 9th time on his 9 year career that he reached the 30+ point mark equalling his prior single season low of 30 points from the 2000-01 campaign with the Isles. Parrish's 16 goals were also a single season low.

* Todd Bertuzzi assisted on the game tying goal with only 6:18 remaining in regulation as the Anaheim Ducks came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 in SO over the visiting Phoenix Coyotes. Bertuzzi finished with 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points on 68 games. For the 7th time on his career, and the first since the 2005-06 season, Bertuzzi reached the 40+ point mark.

That wraps it up for the regular season here at FIW. Stay with us as we follow all the FI action through every round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Check soon for our FI Playoff Preview.

The action was intense on Saturday as history was in the making. The Washington Capitals pulled off an amazing mid-season turn around to seal up the Southeast Division title with a 3-1 win over the visiting Florida Panthers. The Panthers defeat of the Carolina Hurricanes the night before opened the door to a Caps' clinch. Other action emphasized movement up and down the standings for many of the playoff-bound teams while the rest of the league continue to play out the last couple of days. There were 14 teams in motion in 7 games around the the league. Former Islanders lent their support where they could. Let us take a brief gander at the FI happenings:

* Winger Todd Bertuzzi assisted on the game winning goal 6:28 into the 3rd period as the Anaheim Ducks edged the host Los Angeles Kings for a 4-3 win. Bertuzzi has 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points on 67 games. He snapped a 3 game point-less drought with the helper.

* Bryan Smolinski had an assist on the powerplay insurance goal as the Montreal Canadiens beat the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1. Smoke has 8 goals and 17 assists for 25 points on 64 games. He has had 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) over the last 2 contests. For the 14th straight season Smolinski has reached the 25+ point plateau, though this has been his least prolific season since he had 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) on only 9 games with the Boston Bruins during the 1992-93 season. Jason Blake added one more to his single season high assists tally as he recorded a helper on the lone Leafs' goal. Blake finished the season with 15 goals and 37 assists for 52 points on all 82 Toronto games.

* Already out of the running following Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the Vancouver Canucks finished the season with another head-scratching lack of offense and sadly another poor showing from Roberto Luongo. Luongo stopped only 6 of 9 shots before being replaced in the 2nd as the Canucks fell to the visiting Calgary Flames 7-1. Luongo finished the season with a 35-29-9 record having lost 7 of his last 8 starts. Luongo was pulled early in 3 of those losses. He finished with a .917 save percentage, a 2.38 goals again average (largely bloated over the last few weeks of play) and 6 shutouts. On a lighter note, Trevor Linden received the 1st star of the game honor despite not recording a point. Linden, the one-time captain of the Canucks, may very well have played his last NHL game. Between the spotlight he received following the game and the hints he dropped it appears Linden is going to hang up his skates. An officially announcement has yet to be made. In 1382 career games Linden has recorded 375 goals and 492 assists for 867 points. He is currently the 99th highest point scorer in the history of the NHL. Linden played most of his career in Vancouver but also saw time with the Isles, Canadiens and Capitals.

Check with FIW soon as we only have 1 day remaining the the 2007-08 regular season.

The first day of the last weekend of regular season hockey around the NHL had 6 games on tap. While most teams have insured a playoff spot, a couple of issues were at stake on Friday including some positioning. Former Islanders played vital roles in some of the games. Let us take a look at the FI contributions:

* Martin Straka had 2 assists, including 1 on the tying goal, as the New York Rangers fell to the visiting Islanders 4-3 in SO. Straka has 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points on 65 games. Over the home-and-home with the Isles, Straka had 4 points on 1 goal and 3 asssits. For the 3rd straight season, and 10th time on his career, Straka has reached the 40+ point mark.

* Devils' backup goalie Kevin Weekes came in for 8 minutes of play resting the workhorse Martin Brodeur as New Jersey fell to the host Philadelphia Flyers 3-0. Weekes stopped the only shot he faced in his first appearance since March 22. Weekes is 2-2-1 on the season with an .894 save percentage and a 2.97 goals against average. Weekes has only made 9 appearances this season including 5 starts.

* Zdeno Chara scored the first goal of the game as the visiting Boston Bruins edged the Ottawa Senators 2-1. Chara has 17 goals, a new single season high, and 34 assists for 51 points on 76 games. He snapped a 7 game goal-less streak with the netter.

Check back soon for more news and updates as we wrap up the regular season here at FIW.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Things are coming to a close very soon around the NHL as playoff contenders keep battling for spots and the also-rans play out the last few games awaiting their early tee times. Formers Islanders are still pushing for teams both high and low. Thursday was no exception as 20 teams faced off in 10 tilts around the league. Let us look at the FI contributions:

* Viktor Kozlov had 2 assists as the Washington Capitals won their 6th straight game, 4-1, as they beat the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning. The Caps slipped into the 8th spot with the win and tied up the Southeast Division leading Carolina Hurricanes with 92 points. Each team has 1 game remaining while the caps hold on the 8th spot is tenuous owing to the Philadelphia Flyers having a game in hand. Things are intense and Kozlov has been a force for the Caps during this improbable push. Kozzer has 16 goals and 38 assists for 54 points on 80 games. Over this 6 game streak, Kozlov has contributed with 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points. Caps' defenseman Tom Poti capped the scoring with an empty netter at the 18:52 mark. Poti now has 2 goals and 27 assists for 29 points on 70 games. During this Washington run Poti has 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points. The netter snapped a 24 goal-less drought.

* Martin Straka had an insurance goal and an assist on the powerplay game winner as the New York Rangers blanked the host Islanders 3-0. Straka has 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points on 63 games. He has 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) this season on the man advantage. The netter broke a 6 game goal-less run. For the 3rd straight season, and 9th time on his career, Straka has 25+ assists.

* Michael Peca had an assist on Columbus' 2nd goal as the Blue Jackets were edged by the host Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Peca has 7 goals and 26 assists for 33 points on 63 games. He has 3 points on his last 4 games notching 2 goals and 1 assist.

* Bryan Smolinski had 2 goals, including the game winner, as the Montreal Canadiens dropped the visiting Buffalo Sabres 3-1. The first star of the game, Smolinski has 8 goals and 16 assists for 24 points on 63 games. He broke a 8 game goal-less run with the netters. The 2nd goal was the 650th point (274 goals, 376 assists) of Smoke's career on 1,055 games. D-man Roman Hamrlik had an assist on the opening powerplay goal.

* D-man Sean Hill had a powerplay assist on the insurance goal as the Minnesota Wild beat the visiting Calgary Flames 3-1. Hill has 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists) on 34 games with 5 of those points (1 goal, 4 assists) coming on the man advantage. Hill has been especially productive as of late with 2 goals and 4 assists for 6 points on 7 games. Adrian Aucoin had the a powerplay helper on the lone Calgary tally. Aucoin has 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) on 76 games. It is the 3rd time on Aucoin's career that he has reached the 35+ point plateau having his best season since the 2003-04 campaign when he had 44 points with the Isles and tying his second best season when he had 35 points in 2002-03, also with Isles.

* Derek Armstrong had an assist on Los Angeles' 2nd goal as the Kings surprised the San Jose Sharks, who had not lost in regulation in their last 21 games, with a 4-2 win. Armstrong received 1st star of the game honor. Armstrong has 35 points (8 goals, 27 assists) on 76 games. For the 5th straight season, all with the Kings, Armstrong has reached the 35+ point mark.

* Roberto Luongo stopped 19 of 21 shots but the offense failed to keep the team in is at the host Vancouver Canucks fell to the Edmonton Oilers 2-1. The loss officially eliminated the Canucks from playoff contention, their 6th loss in their last 7 games. Luongo fell to 35-28-9 with the loss. He has dropped 6 of his last 7 starts surrendering 22 goals and was pulled in 2 of those contests.

Check in soon as there are only a few days remaining to the 2007-08 NHL season.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

There were a paltry 4 games on tap on Wednesday night yet they most had a big impact on the playoff race. Former Islanders were there to lend their help to their teams as we near the end of the regular season, an ending filled with playoff hopes and soon despair for the a few of the handful pushing to compete for Lord Stanley's Cup, the ultimate prize in professional sports. Let us look at the FI contributions:

* Defenseman Zdeno Chara had a powerplay assist on Boston's first goal as the Bruins fell to the host New Jersey Devils 3-2 in SO earning an important point. Chara snapped a 4 game point drought and now has his first 50 point season. Chara has logged 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points on 75 games, the best single season offensive effort of his 10 year career. Chara has an impressive 25 points (9 goals, 16 assists) on the man advantage.

* Chris Osgood came in for the no decision in backup of the starter Dominik Hasek as the Detroit Red Wings were thumped by the host Chicago Blackhawks 6-2. Osgood stopped 19 of 22 shots after Hasek surrendered 3 goals on the first 6 shots he faced. Playing in his 43rd game, it was only the 3rd midgame replacement appearance for Ozzie all season. His 43 games is the most he logged in a season since he was the starter with the St. Louis Blues during the 2003-04 season when he made 67 appearances. The Blackhawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead less than 8 minutes into the 1st period prompting Detroit coach Mike Babcock to pull his starter for sub Chris Osgood. Osgood's record remains 27-9-4 on the year.

With only 6 days left to the NHL season things are madness as many teams are still scrambling to lock up a playoff spot or to insure some higher positioning in the standings. There were 9 games on an unbelievably Tuesday night around the league. Former Islanders are lending their support to contenders and also-rans alike. Let us look at the FI contributions:

* Olli Jokinen opened the scoring 4:10 into play snapping a 3 game goal and point drought. The goal was on the powerplay and kickstarted a 3-2 Florida Panthers' win over the host Atlanta Thrashers. O-Jok now has 71 points (34 goals, 37 assists) on 80 games. He has 18 goals this season on the man advantage doubling his effort from last season.

* Viktor Kozlov assisted on the game winning powerplay goal with 59 seconds left in the 1st period as the Washington Capitals pulled off a must win 4-1 victory over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. The win evened the Southeast Division battle as the Caps and 'Canes each have 90 points. Carolina currently holds the advantage with more wins. Kozzer has 16 goals and 36 assists for 52 points on 79 games. The 52 points surpasses last year's career resurging 51 point effort with the Isles. Kozlov is officially having the 3rd most productive point season of his career and his best since 2002-03 when he had 56 points with the Florida Panthers. Additionally, he has 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) with the extra man this year.

* Jason Blake had a powerplay helper on Toronto's 2nd goal as the host Maple Leafs fell to the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in SO. Blake added to his season high assists total and now has 15 goals and 36 assists for 51 points on 80 games. Over the last 6 contests he has 6 points on 2 goals and 4 assists. He has 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists) this season on the man advantage with those assists tying his previous season high from the 2005-06 season with the Isles.

* Defenseman Adrian Aucoin scored an important powerplay goal as the Calgary Flames edged the host Edmonton Oilers 3-2. The win nearly sealed a playoff spot for the Flames while officially eliminating the Oilers from contention. Aucoin now has 10 goals and 24 assists for 34 points on 75 games. He has 19 points (5 goals, 14 assists) on the man advantage. For the 5th time on his career, and the first since the 2002-03 season with the Isles, Aucoin has 10+ goals on a season.

* Roberto Luongo did not play up to par as the Vancouver Canucks dropped an important 4-2 decision the visiting Colorado Avalanche. The victory sealed a playoff spot for the Avs but dropped the Canucks into 9th play in the West. Luongo faced only 20 shots but stopped a mere 16. He dropped to 35-27-9 on the season with an increasingly bloating 2.35 goals against average and a shrinking .918 save percentage. Maybe not making the playoffs will mean more time with his newborn child. Otherwise Vancouver needs to pick up the play. One player who has is Trevor Linden who had an assist on the opening goal of the game. Linden now has 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) on 57 games. He has 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) over the last 2 contests including a game winning goal.

* Derek Armstrong had an assist for the Kings as Los Angeles fell to the mighty host San Jose Sharks, a team that has gone unbeaten in regulation for their last 20 games (18-0-2). The Kings all but assured their 30th place finish with the loss. Armstrong has 8 goals and 26 assists for 34 points on 75 games.

Check in soon as we continue to track the FIs around the NHL as the 2007-08 draws closer to an end.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

There were only 2 games on the schedule on Monday night. No major Former Islander news to report as the New York Rangers kept the Pittsburgh Penguins from clinching the Atlantic Division. In the other match it was a battle of also-rans as the Atlanta Thrashers blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning. Check here soon for more FI updates.